An Outlaw Monster (Back Down Devil MC #10)(70)

I pushed myself back up and saw that he had gotten me in the shoulder. It burned like fire but I was still able to move. I climbed back to my feet and turned. The rage poured through me like lava. But I knew any explosion of my own would result in Harlee getting hurt or killed.

“What are you doing here, Daxton?” I asked.

“I’m showing Rocco I belong as VP. Simple. They get the guns and I get the cash. I show them I can handle business.” He pulled at Harlee’s hair. “And this little cunt is coming with me too.”

“That can’t happen. I’ve got guys coming with your money. They won’t allow it.”

“She’s going to die,” Daxton said. He finally took the gun off me but pointed it to Harlee’s head. “I’m offering the cash and Harlee as my way back in. You f*ckers screwed everything up.”

“What’s everything, Daxton?”

“I was working with Ripper. He and I… the Irish… f*ck, even the Russians… we were going to do something great together.”

I sucked in the anger and slowly approached. I heard the rumble of the other motorcycles. Soon there would be a little bit of a crowd. I just needed f*cking Trev to collect all the cash he could and get up here.

“I have to call Rocco,” Daxton said. “Tell him what I did.”

“No,” I said. “How did you find her? What happened?”

“Your father,” Daxton said with a grin. “He was looking for a way out of his Irish debts. He was afraid someone was going to kill him.”

I had my chance to kill him. I didn’t. I f*cking did this. I put Harlee in this position. All those promises…

“Shit,” I said. “My old man did this?”

“He owed me a little bit too,” Daxton said. “For some stuff. He called me and said you were bringing Harlee. So we cut a deal. He thinks I’m giving him some cash to pay off the Irish. In return, he gave up Harlee. See, Trent, I win. I f*cking finally win at this game. You and your MC are dead. Rocco and me are going to come through town with those guns and wipe you out.”

The motorcycles pulled up and I pointed to everyone to hold steady. The van showed up a few seconds later and Austin climbed out. I kept everyone at a distance.

“Where’s the money?” Daxton asked.

“I told you,” I said. “Trev went to get it. We have it at the clubhouse.”

“I’ll call Rocco. We’ll do this right now.”

Daxton fumbled for his phone. If he made that call and shit hit the fan, Harlee would be killed. I had no choice but to turn off all my emotions and focus on the situation at hand. I had to be the enforcer. I had to be the monster.

And that meant when Daxton looked down at his phone, I had no choice but to jump at him.

My shoulder smashed against his face. His gun went off but I couldn’t worry if anyone was shot. I drove him back to the tree, slamming him hard enough that he dropped his phone. He quickly tried to point the gun at me so I had to stop his arm. I hit his arm against the tree and felt his other hand come across and crack me against the jaw. I lost my footing for a split second and Daxton pointed the gun at Harlee.

As he pulled the trigger, I jumped at him again, this time taking him to the ground. We hit with a hard thud and he let the gun go. I popped up and swung a right at him, getting him in the eye. Daxton reached for his gun and swung with his other hand. I blocked the punch but took my eye off his hand as he grabbed the gun again. Instead of shooting, he came across my face with it.

Goddamn, did that f*cking hurt.

He swung again and again, opening up closed wounds thanks to that fight with Denis. He then put the gun to my jaw and was suddenly in complete control and power. I was on my ass and he forced me to climb back until I was against the tree.

“Harlee, get over here,” he ordered.

“Don’t do it!” I yelled. “Don’t listen to him, darling.”

“I’ll f*cking shoot him,” Daxton said. “Anyone makes a move and Trent is gone. Harlee… walk to me.”

Daxton was on his knees, his left hand out, waiting for Harlee.

She slowly moved toward him.

“Don’t do it!” I yelled.

Daxton pulled the gun away and slammed it against my face. The back of my head cracked against the tree.

It was pain, blood, and more fury building inside me.

I still couldn’t believe my father did this to me. To the MC. To Harlee.

Harlee gave her hand to Daxton and he pulled her close. Then he climbed to his feet and was right back to where he was before. An arm around Harlee, a gun pointed at me.

“Someone get me my f*cking money by the time I count to five,” Daxton said. “Or I just start shooting.”

“It’s on its way, man,” I said. I started to climb up the tree to get to my feet but Daxton wasn’t having it. I dropped back down to my ass. I stared at Harlee and hated how helpless the situation was.

The guys couldn’t do anything either. There was no clear shot on Daxton without the risk of me or Harlee getting killed.

“One,” Daxton said.

“I love you, darling,” I said to Harlee. “I’m sorry this happened.”

“I don’t blame you,” she said. “I swear, Trent. I love you, too.”

“Two,” Daxton said.